Iron-fence construction.



No. 789,242. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

R. C. STEWART, JB. TECN EENCE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 28. 1905.

Vl/275755595 if KIM Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD C. STEWART, JR., OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE STEWART IRON WORKS COMPANY, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY,

A CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY.

IRON-FENCE CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 789,242, dated May 9, 1905. Application led January 28, 1905. Serial No. 242,996.

To /LZZ wim/1t it 72mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD C. STEWART, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington,Kenton county,State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Iron-Fence Construction; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying drawings,with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of iron fences containing posts whereby longitudinal rails are supported which carry pickets or other equivalent members to fill in or close intermediate spaces.

The invention relates more particularly to the construction of these posts and to the means whereby the longitudinal rails mentioned are supported on them. This construction'is such as to the posts that it permits adjustment and correction of their position, particularly after erection and when for any reason-as, for instance, unequal settling of the ground`a post has lost its true perpendicular position. As to the means for connecting the longitudinal picketsustaining rails to the posts, these means being substantially brackets, the construction is such that these latter may be readily adjusted on the posts to correct irregularities, sagging, &c., at any time either during construction or. after erection.

In the following' specification and claimsat the end thereof is found a full description of the invention, together with its parts and manner of construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 shows in perspective View a part of a fence embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2, in a sectional side view and at asmaller scale, shows more particularly the fence-post and the manner of its construction. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view, it beingsubstantially a horizontal section through aportion of the fence, showing also one of the in- Fig. 4 shows termediate and a'corner-post.

an enlarged perspective view of one of the structural parts concerned in this invention.

As to its larger partsuch a fence consists of pickets or other equivalent intermediate and space-closing members 9, which are carried on longitudinal rails 10, to which they may bc connected in any suitable way. The ends of thesel rails 10 are supported by brackets A A, which latter are connected to posts 11. These posts are set into the ground, and thus sustain the fence in an upright position. To insure stability and maintenance iniproper position an underground base-plate l2 of limited thickness is provided at the lower end of these posts and an angularly-disposed brace 13 also attached at its lower end to this baseplate and connected with its upper end between the ends of a post. The attachment of these members to base 12 is by reducing their lower ends and by inserting them into corresponding openings in this base, through which openings they project sufciently to permit riveting on the other side, as shown at 14. They consist, preferably, of fiat bars set edgewise to the direction of the fence, and their connection to each other at the upper end of brace 1 3 to posts 11 is latwise-that is, side to side-and is by means of a bolt or equivalent medium 15, which passes sidewise through openings 16, one in each of the members to be connected. Their fiat ed'gewise arrangement with reference to the fence and their Hat connection results in great rigidity of the structure. As to one of these members at least this opening is elongated in one direction so as to be larger than the diameter of.

the bolt passing through. By preference, however, there is such an elongated opening or slot in each of the members to be connected. This permits at any time and particularly after the fence is erected a correction of its position in case it has shifted or sunk so as to incline out of plumb. It is only necessary for such purpose to loosen the connecting membewl, after which the parts may be moved, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, in either direction within certain limits, which limits are, however, sufcient to permit correction ofl ordinary irregularities in position. The riveted connection of' these members to lbase 12 yields readily and sufficiently for this The openings in one of' these parts are by preference slots to permit fitting and longitudinal adjustment. These slots are by pref'- erence in the ends of the rails, and these ends are connected to the under side of members 17 ofl the brackets, thereby making it unnecessary to finish this end. and by thus covering the same a neatly-finished connectingjoint appears. The edges of' this covered end of the rail are hidden by ribs 19. The connection of' these brackets A to the flat side of the posts is by their upright parts 18 and is by bolts 23 or equivalent means, which pass through openings S24, one in each ofl the parts to be connected. As to one of these parts at least, these openings are elongated to form slots which may be either in the bracket or in the post, as shown in Fig. l. This arrangement permits vertical adjustment of the brackets on the posts, which adjustment may be `either with or without the connected rail-- that is, it may be either before or after construction of` the fence is completed.

To prevent twisting of the brackets about bolts 23 at any time, but more particularly when shifted for adjustment, I povide flanges 25, which project from the back of' the brackets and lap over the edges of posts 11. Where these latter are not of any considerable thickness, these flanges 25 may project sufliciently r rearwardly so that those of one bracket may meet those of' the bracket on the opposite side, thereby completely inclosing the posts at that point and adding to the finished appearance of' the fence when completed.

- Having described my invention, I claim as new- l. In fence construction, a fence-post structure, consisting of a fiat plate of' limited thickness which forms an underground base, a post and abrace 'formed of flat iron bars and having their lower ends reduced for insertion into said base-plate, the connection being com- .pleted by riveting the projecting portions of' these inserted ends, said post and brace being arranged at an angle and set fiatwise against each other, perforations in the contiguous portions of both, of' which one at least is a slot, and a bolt passing through both perforations, thereby completing an adjustable connection.

Q. In fence construction embracing posts and rails, a bracket for connecting them to each other, the same being attached to each of' the parts, by means of' bolts passing through both, the connection to one of the parts being with a slidable adjustment.

3. In fence construction embracing posts and rails, a bracket to connect the ends of the rails -to the side of' the post, the same consisting of two parts arranged at right angles of which one part is adapted for attachment to the side of' the post with a slidable adjustment, while the other part receives the end of' the rail.

4. In a fence structure embracing posts and rails, the combination of' railsupporting brackets consisting each of two parts arranged to each other at right angles, and adapted to be connected to the posts with one of' their parts, openings provided in each ofl the parts to be so connected, one of' these openings at each connection at least being elongated to f'orm a slot and a bolt to occupy these two openings to hold the bracket to its post with a slidable adjustment.

5. In fence construction embracing posts and rails, a bracket for connecting them to each other,the same presenting two angularl yarranged parts or members, one adapted f'or connection to a rail end, and the other to the side of a post, and fillets or ribs which connect the lateral edges of these bracket member 6. A fence structure embracing posts and rails, and brackets whereby these parts are connected to each other, these brackets presenting two angularly-arranged parts or members of which one is attached to the side of a post while the other projects laterally therefrom, the end of the rail to be connected being attached to the under side of' this laterally-projecting member.

7. A fence structure, embracing posts and rails and brackets for connecting them to each other, these brackets consisting of' two angularly-arranged members or parts and of' fillets which connect the lateral edges of'these bracket members, one of these latter being adapted for attachment to the side of a post, the end of the rail being attached to the other member and between the two fillets thereat.

8. A fence structure embracing posts and rails, and brackets whereby these parts are connected to each other, these brackets presenting two angularly-arranged parts or members, of which one is adapted f'or connection to a rail end, the other for connectionto the side of a post and flanges projecting from this latter bracket member and adapted to overlap the edges on each side of' the post.

In testimony whereof' I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD C. STEWART, JR.

Witnesses:

C. SPENGEL, N. A. STEWART.

IOO 

